"When buying or selling in Highbridge, who you know matters as much as what you know. Associations with local authorities and other sources of detailed Highbridge issues are maintained by our Solicitors to streamline the Conveyancing process.

We have assisted home movers throughout Highbridge, including Conveyancing in TA9."

Local issues considered by Highbridge Conveyancing Solicitors:

Listed Buildings in Highbridge

It is important for a buyer to know if a property is listed as listed buildings are subject to very tight planning control, as defined in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990. A building may be considered important for its:

• architectural design
• decoration
• craftsmanship

Large historic buildings are quite often converted into residential accommodation which is seen as a good way of ensuring the preservation of buildings which would not otherwise have any useful commercial use.

Alternatively, properties may be listed as scheduled monuments, but will still have strict guidelines governing planned works. Monuments and listed buildings in Highbridge include Alstone Lake Settlement Site, and Moated site at Edithmead.

Environmental Issues

"Whether it concerns flooding, subsidence or contamination, our Highbridge solicitors ensure that you are aware of the risks to your planned purchase."

Your Highbridge Conveyancing Solicitor will usually perform a search of a variety of records of issues, including:

• the historical use of the land,
• past contaminants and polluting processes,
• landfill,
• waste treatment sites,
• nearby toxic substances,
• the probability of radon gas, and,
• the risk of subsidence and flooding

As an environmental search is a review of data and records held by various Highbridge sources, it does not cover unknown contaminants or environmental risks. The technical report behind the environmental searches's conclusions may also be available. If you wish to review this, you should confirm its availability with your solicitor.

What are the consequences if your solicitor is not on your lender's panel?

Many lenders, and particularly nationwide banks, were once willing to instruct any solicitors who requested to be added to their panel. More recently, lenders have begun to remove firms which have either not completed many conveyancing transactions or have failed to meet other criteria. If your lender does not accept your chosen solicitor, you must make a decision as to how to proceed; you could either obtain a mortgage from another lender, or instruct another firm of conveyancer who are on the panel. Generally, it is cheaper to have the same firm act both for you and your lender, but you could also choose to persist with both your first choice of lender and solicitor, and pay for a lawyer selected by the lender to carry out the relevant legal work. Issues to consider if you intend to swap to a firm on the panel:

• The second firm may have a different fee structure, or higher fees
• Work which the first solicitor has completed already may need to be paid for regardless of your decision.
• Your new conveyancing solicitor may have weaker local knowledge.

Looking for a mortgage lender with a branch in Highbridge, Somerset, try:

• NatWest Bank plc, 11, Huntspill Rd, TA9 3ZD - Tel: 0845 6002803